What to See in Puerto Ayora
The sights, with opening times
| Sight | Where | Hours and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Darwin Research Station | east end of Avenida Charles Darwin | daily 08:00 to 18:00, free |
| Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Lonesome George room | beside the station | Tortoise Route 08:00 to 16:45, about USD 10 |
| Pelican Bay fish market | waterfront | hours vary |
| Tortuga Bay beaches | 2.5 km walk from the edge of town | about 06:00 to 18:00 |
| El Chato and Rancho Primicias | road to Santa Rosa | roughly 08:00 to 17:30, about USD 10 |
| Los Gemelos | beside the highway in the highlands | check access before you go |
Prices are in US dollars.
Inside the research station
The exhibition hall holds whale skeletons and natural history collections. The station’s giant tortoise breeding programme has run since 1965. Admission is free every day, holidays included, which makes it the easiest sight to fit between other plans.
The Fausto Llerena Breeding Center is run separately by the Park Directorate and is visited on the guided Tortoise Route. Along the tortoise trail is the Symbol of Hope exhibit room, where the preserved remains of Lonesome George are shown. George was the last known Pinta Island tortoise and died on 24 June 2012. His remains came back to Santa Cruz in February 2017. It is a place for quiet.
Along the waterfront
The Avenida Charles Darwin runs from the municipal pier to the station. The open-air fish market on Pelican Bay is where fishermen fillet the day’s catch and pelicans and sea lions come close. Confirm hours when you are in town.
Beaches worth seeing
At Tortuga Bay, the first beach is Playa Brava. Marine iguanas and surfers use it, and the rip currents mean it is for looking at, not swimming. Playa Mansa, a 20 minute walk further, is sheltered and open to swimmers. Sign in at the park booth and expect to walk 30 to 45 minutes from the trailhead. The park can close the beach at short notice if the sea is rough.
Up in the highlands
El Chato and Rancho Primicias are neighbouring reserves where wild tortoises roam and a guide leads you through lava tunnels. Los Gemelos, the twin craters, are beside the highway. Muddy ground is normal, and boots are often lent.
Sightseeing etiquette
- Stay 2 m from every animal and do not touch or feed any of them.
- No flash photography.
- Do not fly drones without park permission.
- Check current government advice before travelling. The islands lie outside the mainland areas named in UK advice for Ecuador .
Read more: walking tours in Puerto Ayora and attraction tours in Puerto Ayora .
Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation and the Park Directorate . Book a guide on GetYourGuide .